Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver fined and banned

A taxi driver has been banned from driving for two months after he carried on trading even though his car had failed an MOT test. Chichester Magistrates Court heard Guy Abbot's vehicle was inspected by officers from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) outside Chichester Railway Station taxi rank on December 10 last year.

The inspection revealed he had a defectivebraking and steering system. The court heard that Abbot, 67, of Turkey Island, East Harting had taken his taxi for an MOT test a day earlier but despite failing the test continued to use the vehicle. He was found guilty of using a vehicle in a dangerous condition and in addition to the ban was fined £80 and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Senior vehicle examiner for VOSA, Graham East said: "This could have been an accident waiting to happen and demonstrates the blatant disregard this man had for potential customers. "This highlights VOSA's determination to stop drivers who put others at risk by flouting the law and compromising road safety."

The operation was a joint investigation by VOSA and licensing authority Chichester District Council.

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IDFIMH

What is not reported is when his previous MOT expired.

I get mine done early, so in the event of any problems, I would still have a valid MOT. Having said that, my mechanic does any work necessary before it's MOT'd so it shouldn't arise.

Having a valid MOT certificate does not make your vehicle roadworthy.

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Grandad,

Not having one (or an MOT exemption) makes use on the road illegal though.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

I take it he was a PH, or surely the LA hackney station would have taken the plate off the back, rendering it unable to ply for hire (legally). Or are things done different in Englandshire?

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

Grumpy Said:

Things are most definately different in Chichester at least, as the council seem to operate by their own unique set of rules in the district, and are way above the law (see ad nauseum posts!)

The local Hacks (well, most of them) are trying very hard to raise the profile of the trade, and then this sort of thing happens.

The vehicle was in fact a Metrocab, and all Hackneys in the district have to be PCO approved types, but this means that even a dodgy mobile skip like this one is attempting to get re-plated.

Surely, even the biggest donuts out there must see that if the vehicle fails its MOT it is unsafe?? You should not use it. No argument, especially when dealing with the public and supposedly being responsible for their safety.


This driver, and his actions, exemplifies the type of total kn*b the trade simply does not need.

I sincerely hope that when this twit is brought in front of the Licensing and enforcement committee they pull his license for good.

FFS

May I ask what type of HC you have in your district? WAV? If so [although I do not condone the metrocab driver] He may not be able to afford 34k or even a good second hand one. I suspect its both!

I was responding to cabbyman saying that if his car fails, he still has a valid MOT.

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Grandad,

A MOT can only take place at a testing station, whilst VOSA can inspect, they cant issue a MOT certificate

the vehicle may have failed the MOT on a wiper blade for all we know.

The vehicle may well have been "faulty" but to test braking and suspension requires a 4 poster ramp+jacks, though id guess VOSA would know what to look for, its still not a MOT test is it?

They should have issued a PG9/VG9 if the vehicle was unroadworthy, and the LO (who should have been with them) should have removed the hack plate.



not quite correct, a fail can be a thousand things, from a number plate bulb to a snapped chassis, many minor items are allowed a retest period of the failed items only

it is also legal to drive to and from an pre-booked test in a vehicle with no test certificate, so long as any failure is not notified as "unsafe to drive"

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

This is not entirely accurate. You can't be charged for not having a current MOT certificate if you are driving to or from a prebooked MOT test.
You can still be prosecuted for driving an unroadworthy vehicle if it is unroadworthy.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Realy! So the pit and rolling road that some garages use are no good then.

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Grandad,

VOSA dont need to have anyone with them to stop/check a vehicle, they can take anything off the road, its then the drivers job to inform his LO, same as being done by the police.
[/quote]

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now a licensed hackney driver